Chapter 4 Transport Stream Configuration
© 2013 Harmonic Inc. Harmonic All rights reserved. 75 Ellipse 3000 Release 3.0, Rev. B
General Sub-Menu/Tab
4.1.4 Scrambling Mode
The Basic Interoperable Scrambling System (BISS) is based on the DVB common scrambling
algorithm. It provides secured (scrambled) transmissions between DSNG equipment from any
supplier using a scrambling key known to the encoding and to the decoding equipment.
The advanced BISS-E Specification enables the use of scrambling keys which are encrypted, or
session words. This adds another layer of security to the transmissions while fully retaining the
benefits of inter-operability. The keys for unscrambling the transmission require the
corresponding DES process and a secret identifier buried in the equipment.
There are four scrambling level, defined by the BISS and supported by the Ellipse:
■ Clear, where no scrambling is applied on the stream.
■ BISS-1, using a scrambling key which is clear, i.e., not encrypted.
■ BISS-E Buried ID, where the scrambling key is encrypted and buried in the equipment
hardware.
■ BISS-E Injected ID, where the scrambling key is encrypted and requires an injected
identification code.
The Scrambling Mode menu/box sets the Ellipse encoder scrambling mode and method.
NOTE: Defining a scrambling method for the encoder determines the scrambling level for all relevant features
of the encoder:
■ The Encoder Cascading feature (for details see 8.2 ASI OUT Sub-Menu/Tab for DVB-ASI Output scrambling
and 9.2 DVB-ASI Input for DVB-ASI Input scrambling).
■ The Transport Stream Service scrambling feature (for details, see 4.2.3).
The available options are:
■ Clear – Transport stream is clear of scrambling.
■ BISS-1 – Transport stream is scrambled using BISS-1 mode.
■ BISS-E Buried ID – Transport stream is scrambled using BISS-E buried ID mode.
■ BISS-E Injected ID – Transport stream is scrambled using BISS-E injected ID mode.
NOTE: Setting the Encoder Scrambling Mode parameter to other modes than Clear is performed upon
permission only, with a correct license key. When trying to change the Clear scrambling mode without
permission, a no permission message displays.
The default mode is Clear.