Device and method for producing an encoded audio and/or video data stream

US7308099B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Eric A. Allamanche · Nuremberg, DE
• Juergen Herre · Erlangen, DE
• Juergen Koller · Erlangen, DE
• Niels Rump · Bromley, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 1999
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2007
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N21/439
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for generating an encrypted data stream representing an audio and/or video signal comprises an encoder for encoding an input signal to generate a data stream with a predefined data stream syntax as output signal. The apparatus further comprises an encryption means coupled with the decoder in order to influence encoder internal data and/or the output signal of the encoder in a uniquely reversible manner based on a key such that the generated encrypted data stream comprises payload information differing from payload information of a data stream that would be generated by the apparatus without the presence of an encryption means and that the generated encrypted data stream comprises the predefined data stream syntax. Thereby, a flexible data stream encryption is achieved, wherein the degree of encryption can be freely selected such that the owner of a decoder who does not possess the key, still obtains a rough idea of the audio and/or video signal which might cause him to buy the key in order to hear or view the audio and/or video signal in its full quality. The encoder-specific encryption and decryption concept can be implemented into already existing encoders/decoders w…