An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs.
A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple
encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a
television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access
encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes
within a single system. In one embodiment, only critical packets such as
those carrying a payload incorporating packetized elementary stream
header information is encrypted. By only encrypting a portion of the
program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of
multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number
of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting
coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable
television system.