In digital Cable systems, high value movies and video programs ("content") are protected by a conditional access scrambling system. A properly authorized CableCARD™ Point of Deployment (POD) security module removes the scrambling and, based on the Content Control Information from the Headend, may rescramble the content before delivering it to consumer receivers and set-top terminals ("Host devices") across the POD-Host interface defined in ANSI/SCTE 28 2007.

This standard defines the characteristics and normative specifications for the system that prevents unrestricted copying of such high value content as it crosses the POD-Host interface.

Content that is delivered unscrambled over Cable systems is not subject to this standard. Indeed, this standard would not provide any protection against unrestricted copying of such content. Any unscrambled content output by the Host on the POD interface will not benefit by scrambling upon its subsequent output from the POD on that same interface.

This standard provides methods for authenticating Host devices, for binding POD modules to Host devices including Diffie-Hellman key exchange, for copy protection key generation, for rescrambling high value content to protect against unauthorized copying (after the POD module employs the conditional access system to descramble it) and then descrambling by the Host, and for transmission and authentication of Copy Control Information. It also provides for revocation of Host devices that are determined to be fraudulent or non-compliant.

This standard requires the use of technology that must be licensed from CableLabs. The technology is called DFAST (U.S. Patent No. 4,860,353 and related know-how), and the license is PHILA " "POD-Host Interface License Agreement", available from CableLabs. Please refer to section 1.2.3 under "DFAST Technology, PHILA, and PHICA" for contact information for such a license.