Project and Consulting Summaries

History, Development, Implementation and Rollout of Digital Television Assisted numerous entities in understanding the technology, development and evolution of digital television (DTV). I was a member of the original ISO MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC committees, and have worked within and around the technology of DTV for over 20 years.

Assist in Patent and Internal IPR Mining for Strategic and Monitary Leveraging Provide review and evaluation services for various entities (telcos and infrastructure providers, wireless and mobile providers, broadband equipment suppliers, IPR trust holders) wishing to leverage their IPR portfolios.

Digital Cinema Security Standards Development Under contract since June 2003 with Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) Hollywood studio consortium to develop and specify the security requirements/specifications for all-digital theatrical movie distribution (http://www.dcimovies.com). Represent DCI at Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) in promoting adoption of DCI security specifications and SMPTE standards (editor of 4 SMPTE security specifications, technical contributor to 5 additional specs). Oversee certification requirements of DCinema equipment for functional and security robustness compliance (FIPS 140, level 3).

Digital Cinema Product Security Reviews Performed numerous security reviews of products being developed to support the digital cinema industry. Includes digital projectors, servers, stereoscopic presentation, transaction reporting/tracking (watermarking and log data) and Digital Cinema Initiatives (see above) compliance testing.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Circumvention Consultant Technical consultant in support of large enterprise software provider’s investigation of third party products that enabled DRM security features of their media players to be bypassed.

DRM Review of Airline Digital Media Players Review of DRM features of portable media players for use by airline passengers. Provided explanations and opinions on DRM distinctions in supplier dispute over misuse of licensed DRM technologies.

Robustness Review of Secure Integrated Circuits Performed detailed review of patented and proprietary techniques used to provide physical and logical protection for security ICs. Defined taxonomy of methods and identified major suppliers.

Consultant to Computer Systems Supplier to Develop an Open Standard, IPR-Free DRM Framework Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Conditional Access Systems (CAS) technical expert assisting on Sun Microsystems “Project DReaM”. Investigated and evaluated intellectual property aspects in relation to the developing DReaM specifications and open architecture framework. Researched the historical record (30 years of fielded CAS/DRM solutions) and currently active IPR. Included DReaM interoperability and compatibility requirements with other open and proprietary DRM solutions.

DRM & Infrastructure Planning for Theatrical & Post-theatrical Content Distributor Performed technical evaluation and strategic planning for major Hollywood distributor implementing Digital Asset Management (DAM) and Content Asset Management (CAM) infrastructure for theatrical, hospitality/airline, and consumer distribution of digital content.

Security Review of Hotel Movie Distribution & In-Room Rendering System Performed robustness review of system for delivery of high definition early-window content to high end hotel rooms. Included evaluation of the supplier’s NOC for content preparation and disctribution, and implementation of High Bandwidth Copy Protection (HDCP) standard for in-room content protection.

Consultant to Large Telco in Next Generation Broadband Network Strategies Provided assistence in evaluating vendor RFP responses to second generation national network architecture, simulcrypt CAS operation and interoperability requirements.

Windows Media DRM Evaluation Performed security compliance evaluation for major wireless phone supplier and cellular network operator for Music on Demand service. Included evaluation and written report for compliance to WMDRM functional and robustness requirements for media player designs and infrastructure (factory, distribution, maintenance) compliance.

Set Top Box DTCP Compliance Evaluation Technical evaluation and compliance review for major North American set top box supplier implementing Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) for encrypted content and copy protected movement of digital assets between compliant consumer devices.

Architectural and System Security/DRM Design for Wireless Media Player Provided security design for portable audio player for an advertiser supported system to securely download and store music.

Corporate Advisor to Supplier of Cable Audience Measurement Service Consultant to cable TV ratings information supplier (similar to Nielsen), for both clear and encrypted program audience data (business and technical development consultant).

Assisted in Evolving Security Technology into the IP Multicast Space Technical consultant to major CA supplier’s adoption of their broadband CAS solutions to Internet Protocol (IP) multicast (broadcast for the Internet) applications.

IPR Assertion Project Manager for European Conditional Access Company Eight multi-national actions pursued/settled. Worked largely behind the scenes in support of IPR assertions against alleged patent infringement of fundamental conditional access key distribution technology. Assisted the legal team leader (Latham & Watkins), and coordinated the in-region legal and technical expert teams on behalf of the IPR owner.

Systems Requirements for Cable Based Music On Demand (MOD) Service Technical advisor to hotel/motel in-room entertainment supplier developing a solution for on-demand music delivery service to be used in parallel with municipal cable TV delivery systems. DRM aspects included presentation/shopping, secure delivery, local storage/playout and billing.

Strategic Study for Entity Developing Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) Compliant DRM Solutions Task was to investigate, explain and present current status of all DVB security standards and copy protection initiatives, including likely directions, players, and comprehensiveness of DVB coverage, timing and interoperability with other like standards initiatives.

DRM Consultant to Major Consumer Devices & Communications Infrastructure Supplier Performing a detailed analysis of all active and expired Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Conditional Access System (CAS) patents in support of the development of a new licensable DRM solution for fixed and mobile consumer markets.

Conditional Access System Development, Operations, Service/Support Over 25 years of direct experience as a Conditional Access System (CAS) supplier for broadband CA solutions for analog and digital content protection systems for cable, satellite and broadcast applications (Oak and TV/Com from 1980 to 1998, and subsequent industry involvement).