Latens Extends Content Protection beyond payTV Distribution Networks enabling “All networks: All devices: One Platform” services

The arrival of Smart devices and the wireless broadband networks that feed them is creating a demand for users to be able to consume high value content on devices other than their set top box. The provision of this capability is now essential for operators trying to ensure customer retention and attract new customers.

Latens provide a unified security capability for payTV and DRM as above. Latens Manager acts as a security domain controller with pluggable interfaces through which any CAS or DRM technology can be rapidly deployed. This relieves the operator from managing the huge variety of proprietary subscriber and security data models which these systems implement, and as a result simplifies integration with Subscriber Management Systems exposing a single data model. Latens Manager interfaces with back-office systems using an XML over http API, again delivering simplicity and allowing easy integration. With this approach the Subscriber Management System can implement its core function while allowing Latens CAS to hide the complexities of content protection and act as a security domain controller.

The Latens Head-end solution uses a key controller for exchange of keys with the encoder and a License Controller for delivery of licenses to end-devices. As the industry has not yet standardized key exchange protocols between encoders and key servers, Latens Key Controller has been designed to implement a range of key exchange protocols. This allows the operator to select from industry leading hardware encoders creating their optimum pre-integrated solution.

The License controller supplies certificates or licenses with embedded keys to the players on the client devices. Licenses must be in the required format for the target DRM running on the requesting device. Latens’ License controllers support multiple DRM flavors, again allowing choice and evolution as the device landscape changes.

Latens acknowledge that the future will almost certainly require a number of DRMs. Latens must also be able to accommodate legacy technology which may already be deployed at an operators head-end. Latens ‘pluggable’ interfaces supporting multiple DRMs supports both scenarios.