SMIz - Secure Multicast IPTV with efficient support for video channel zapping

The current trend in technological evolution is leading telecommunications to all-IP network scenarios, where multiple services are transported as IP packets. Among these are the services based in group communications over IP with confidentiality requirements. Secure IP multicast may be used for the secure broadcasting of multiple video channels over IP. However, scenarios where users switch rapidly between video channels (zapping) introduce new requirements, including very low channel access times and low amounts of signaling. The solution proposed in this paper addresses these requirements, without neglecting user access control. For that purpose, a centralized form of secure group communication is used to transmit, not data, but group cryptographic material that will enable end systems to decrypt the group communication, while satisfying these new requirements.