Packet based high definition high-bandwidth digital content protection

• US 20050069130A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genesis Microchip Inc. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: Genesis Microchip Corp (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1475 Passive attacks, e.g. eavesdropping or listening without modification of the traffic monitored
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44055 by partially decrypting, e.g. decrypting a video stream that has been partially encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

A packet based high bandwidth copy protection method is described that includes the following operations. Forming a number of data packets at a source device, encrypting selected ones of the data packets based upon a set of encryption values, transmitting the encrypted data packets from the source device to a sink device coupled thereto, decrypting the encrypted data packets based in part upon the encryption values, and accessing the decrypted data packets by the sink device.

Claims

1. A packet based high bandwidth copy protection method comprising:

forming a number of data packets at a source device;

encrypting the data packets based upon a set of encryption values;

transmitting the encrypted data packets from the source device to a sink device coupled thereto;

decrypting the encrypted data packets based in part upon the encryption values; and

accessing the decrypted data packets by the sink device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the source device is a video source and wherein the sink device is a video display and wherein the number of data packets include some audio data packets and some video data packets.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the encryption/decryption control signals include a Vsync, an Hsync, and a CNTL3.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the data packets is associated with an particular control packet.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein when the CNTL3 is active, then the corresponding data packet is encrypted and vice-versa.

6. A system for providing high bandwidth copy protection in a packet based system, comprising:

a source unit arranged to provide a number of data packets;

a sink unit coupled to the source unit arranged to receive the data packets from the source unit;

an encryption unit coupled to the source unit arranged to encrypt selected ones of the data packets sent from the source unit to the sink unit;

a decryption unit coupled to the sink unit arranged to decrypt the encrypted data packets; and

an encryption/decryption values generator arranged to provide a set of encryption/decryption values used to encrypt and decrypt the appropriate data packets.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the source unit is an audio/video unit arranged to provide audio type data packets and/or video type data packets.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the sink unit is a display unit arranged to display processed ones of the video data packets.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the display unit includes a number of speakers arranged to transmit audio signals based upon processed ones of the audio data packets.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the set of encryption/decryption control signals include Vsynch, Hsynch corresponding to the video data packets.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the set of encryption/decryption control signal further includes CNTL3 to flag those data packets that are encrypted.

12. Computer program product for providing a packet based high bandwidth copy protection, comprising:

computer code for forming a number of data packets at a source device;

computer code for encrypting the data packets based upon a set of encryption values;

computer code for transmitting the encrypted data packets from the source device to a sink device coupled thereto;

computer code for decrypting the encrypted data packets based in part upon the encryption values;

computer code for accessing the decrypted data packets by the sink device; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

13. Computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the source device is a video source and wherein the sink device is a video display and wherein the number of data packets include some audio data packets and some video data packets.

14. Computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the encryption control signals include a Vsync, an Hsync, and a CNTL3.

15. Computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the data packets is associated with an particular control value CNTL3.

16. Computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein when the CNTL3 is active, then the corresponding data packet is encrypted and vice-versa.