Patent · US Expired

File table copy protection for a storage device when storing streaming content

US6853727B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
6References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 2000
Grant dateFeb 8, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2005/91364
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Copy protection is provided at a mass storage device provided in or connected to a decoder for receiving digital transmissions of audio and video program material by virtual scrambling of blocks of data. Non-sequential storage locations for blocks of data are defined in accordance with a key and the file allocation table is encrypted and stored. Thus blocks of data remain intact and need not be decrypted upon playback, reducing processing time, while the program is effectively protected from reassembly without decryption of the file allocation table. The key(s) may be maintained internally within the decoder and need not be shared, thus avoiding a need for user identification and/or authentication. Software for encryption, including keys may be downloaded to the decoder through the same transmission link used for transmission of data files that may be encrypted in response to control signals or flags transmitted with data files to be protected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.