Secure distribution of digital data

US7006995B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Roy I. Edenson · Richardson, US
• Peter Van Kessel · Downers Grove, US
• Gregory J. Hewlett · Richardson, US
• Paul S. Breedlove · Lubbock, US
• William B. Werner · Plano, US
• Keith H. Elliott · Plano, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 13, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 28, 2006
• Expiry date: Oct 13, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N21/8358
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A secure digital data distribution system (100) for preventing unauthorized access to digital data. The system utilizes an identification system module (116) embedded in a digital storage media (114) to grant authorization to media players (118). Prior to reading the digital data recorded on the media (114), an identification system interrogator (122) reads authorization data from the identification system module (116) to determine whether the media player (118) is authorized to read the media (114). If the authorization data matches the media player's unique identifier, authorization is granted and the media player (118) commences to read the media (114).