A method and system for a source device to simultaneously perform
authentication and key exchange (hereinafter referred to as "AKE")
protocols with multiple sink devices. In a communication network that
comprises a source device and multiple sink devices in compliance with the
5C Digital Transmission Content Protection specification, the present
invention discloses a method and system for using a multiple client state
machine comprising a multiple client state machine table to allow the
source device to track at which stage each sink device is undergoing
within a 5C DTCP AKE protocol. Specifically, an embodiment allows the
source device to receive an audio/video control command or response
associated with the 5C DTCP AKE protocol from a particular sink device,
access the table to determine at which stage that sink is undergoing
within the 5C DTCP AKE protocol, and process the AV/C command or response
depending on that stage. Further, by virtue of the state table, an
embodiment allows the source device to simultaneously conduct multiple 5C
DTCP AKE protocols with multiple sink devices because the source can
determine the exact stage within the protocol any sink device is
undergoing to properly process an AV/C command or response from that sink
device.
