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P

Public key algorithm

An algorithm where the key used for encryption is different from the key used for decryption. Furthermore, the private (decryption) key cannot be calculated from the public (encryption) key.

Push VOD

Also known as virtual VOD. A system where a selection of movies are broadcast in encrypted format and stored directly on hard disks in the STBs. A consumer can later purchase access to the movies.

PVR

Short for Personal Video Recorder. DVR and PDR are used interchangeably with this term.

Program stream

A PES packet multiplex that carries several elementary streams that were encoded using the same master clock or system time clock.

PSTN

Short for Public-Switched Telephone Network.

Public key

Encryption key is often called public key in public-key systems. A public key can also be used for verification of signatures. See also private key.

Product metadata

Metadata related to a media file, including product id, category, protecting services, access modes, usage rights, pricing info, scheduling info, maturity rating, addressing, etc.

Program

Television program or multimedia streams.

Prepaid mode

Mode that allows the use of prepaid cards.

Preview

The consumer is granted free access to viewing for a time-limited period before subscribing.

Private key

Decryption key is often called private key in public-key systems. A private key is also used for signing a message. See also public key.

PPV

Short for Pay Per View. Services offered in a way that the consumer will pay for the service on a PPV basis. PPV services can be offered either as pre-booked (P-PPV) or impulse PPV (I-PPV).

Prepaid card

A smart card that self-activates for a programmed number of services and for a programmed relative duration when inserted into the STB.

P-PPV

Short for Pre-booked PPV. PPV services offered in a way that the consumer has to order the service within a given time in advance.

POD

Short for Point of Deployment. Obsolete name for CableCARD.

PPT

Short for Pay Per Time. The consumer pays for consuming a media file once within a time limit.

PKCS

Short for Public-Key Cryptography Standards. Set of standards for public-key cryptography from RSA Security Inc. See www.rsasecurity.com

PKI

Short for Public Key Infrastructure. System that provides public-key
encryption and digital signature services.

Plaintext

Ordinary readable text before being encrypted into ciphertext or after being decrypted. Synonym: cleartext.

PIN

Short for Personal Identification Number.

Piracy

Unauthorised use of copyrighted content. Pirates can be grouped in several categories depending on the hacking tools they possess.

PC/SC

Short for Personal Computer/Smart Card. Standard for integrating smart cards and smart card readers into the mainstream computing environment.

PCMCIA

Standard for credit card sized accessories that can be plugged into a computer, usually whilst the computer is running.

PDR

Short for Personal Digital Recorder. DVB expression for PVR.

Pairing

In a pay TV context, pairing is a security function that couples smart cards with STBs. Pairing enables the STB to only accept cards that it has been paired with, and to reject all other cards.

Pairing Module

Security function, embedded in the STB, that handles pairing. There are two variants - Chipset Pairing Module and Memory Pairing Module.

PAL

Short for Phase Alternating Line, the dominant television standard in Europe. The United States uses a different standard, NTSC. PAL delivers 625 lines at 50 fields (half-frames interlaced) per second. The resolution of a PAL VCD is 352x288 pixels, a PAL SVCD is 480x576, and a PAL full D1 DVD is 704 or 720 x 576. See also SECAM.