When to Use PlayReady for Network Device Receivers

PlayReady for network device receivers (PlayReady-ND or PRND for short) is a content protection technology that enables in-home protected media streaming between network devices. Manufacturers of set top boxes (STBs), protected tuners, and home media servers can use PlayReady-ND to implement apps that can stream protected content remotely to network devices throughout the home.

The following figure shows the difference between PlayReady and PlayReady-ND.

Figure 1.  Comparison between PlayReady and PlayReady-ND

PlayReady is typically used with video on demand streaming technology. While PlayReady allows live HTTP streaming, PlayReady is often used to protect file-based VOD content stored on servers. In those cases, the license server is cloud-based, and the service provides the license to authorized consumers. Once the device or user is authorized to receive the content, it consumes the protected content, either by streaming from the web (nonpersistent), or by downloading the content for local playback (persistent).

PlayReady-ND is used in a slightly different context. In this case, a device like a network operator set top box or a PC can stream protected content to an app on a different device, such as an Xbox One, a Windows 8 tablet, a Windows Phone, or a third-party device like an iPad or an Android device.