Handshake protocol to control actors and functions in a cable set-top-box system to propagate acceptance of an IP license to securely authenticate software application program interfaces (APIs)
View Patent ↗A system for securely authenticating software Application Program Interfaces (APIs) includes a handshake protocol that enables promulgation of licensing rights controlling Intellectual Property (IP) to multiple Actors. The Actors include components of a cable system that can include a Conditional Access System, Middleware, a Browser for a Set-Top-Box, a Guide and a Guide Data Provider. The handshake is a Challenge-Response protocol that includes a Challenge issued by one Actor who controls IP rights to verify a second Actor has Licensed IP rights when the second Actor Response includes a Hook IP function IPF 1 . Other Actors who wish to use software functions F that the first Actor provides will be encouraged to acquire rights to the IP License to obtain the function IPF 1 for access. Subsequent Actors who have IP rights controlled by another function IPF 2 can be pulled into the same IP Licensing system, or another IP License that becomes part of the same ecosystem with the system controlled using function IPF 1.
1. A method for providing a handshake for secure transfer of data between a plurality of components in a cable system, each component including a processor and memory for storing code enabling the processor to perform steps of the method, the method comprising:
providing from a first Conditional Access System (CAS) to first Middleware a Challenge for handshaking;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from the Middleware at the first CAS, wherein the Response is calculated as a function IPF 1 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 1 is calculated based on data received from access to a first license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 1 that is controlled by the CAS, and that the first Middleware has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using the first CAS; and
returning an acknowledgement from the first CAS to the first Middleware allowing the first Middleware access to the CAS API;
providing from the CAS to an additional Actor in the cable system a Challenge;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from an additional Actor at the CAS, wherein the Response is calculated as the function IPF 1 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 1 is calculated based on data received from access to a second license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 1 that is controlled by the CAS, and that the additional Actor has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using the CAS; and
returning an acknowledgement from the CAS allowing the additional Actor access to the CAS API.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional Actor comprises at least one of a second CAS, second Middleware, a Guide, a Guide Data Provider and a Browser for a Set-Top-Box.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing from an additional Actor to a second additional Actor in the cable system a Challenge;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from a second additional Actor at the additional Actor, wherein the Response is calculated as a function IPF 2 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 2 is calculated based on data received from access to a second license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 2 that is controlled by the additional Actor, and that the second additional Actor has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using the additional Actor; and
returning an acknowledgement from the additional Actor allowing the second additional Actor access to the CAS API.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second additional Actor comprises at least one of: a second CAS, second Middleware, a Guide, a Guide Data Provider and a Browser for a Set-Top-Box.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing from the CAS to a second CAS in a separate cable system a Challenge;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from a CAS to the second CAS, wherein the Response is calculated as the function IPF 1 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 1 is calculated based on data received from access to a first license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 1 that is controlled by the CAS, and that the second CAS has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using the CAS; and
returning an acknowledgement from the CAS allowing the second Actor access to the CAS API.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing from the CAS to a second Actor in a separate cable system a Challenge;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from a CAS to the second Actor, wherein the Response is calculated as the function IPF 1 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 1 is calculated based on data received from access to a first license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 1 that is controlled by the CAS, and that the second Actor has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using the CAS; and
returning an acknowledgement from the CAS allowing the second Actor access to the CAS API.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing from the additional Actor in the cable system a Challenge;
receiving a Response to the Challenge from a second additional Actor, wherein the Response is calculated as the function IPF 1 over the Challenge value wherein the function IPF 1 is calculated based on data received from access to a second license agreement for licensing Intellectual Property (IP) rights referred to as Hook IP 1 that the second additional Actor has acquired rights to;
verifying the Response using additional Actor; and
returning an acknowledgement from the additional Actor allowing the second additional Actor access to the CAS API.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second additional actor comprises at least one of a CAS, Middleware, a Guide, a Guide Data Provider and a Browser for a Set-Top-Box.