METHOD OF VERIFYING IDENTITY OF SUBSCRIBER TERMINAL

FIELD: physics; computer engineering. ^ SUBSTANCE: present invention pertains to digital television (DTV), especially to the method of verifying identity of a subscriber terminal in a DTV network. The method of carrying out authentication procedure of at least one subscriber terminal comprises the following stages: reading out, using a set-top box (STB) at the subscriber terminal, the period of validity of the key and key information, stored in the subscriber identification module at the subscriber terminal when the set-top box is launched; initiation, using the STB, of sending a request for authentication to a central station, if the period of validity of the key has expired, and authentication by the central station, in accordance with the authentication request; determination by the central station of whether authentication has been successful, and if successful, sending a corresponding reply message, containing new key information, and a reply message on failure of authentication if otherwise; updating, through the STB, key information when a reply message on successful authentication has been received. ^ EFFECT: reduced congestion of a network or authentication server. ^ 18 cl, 8 dwg