Controlled-Access Recording Generator

• US 20070220257A1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Mardiks, Eitan, Pomerantz, Ishay
• Application Number:
  US11/681,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]

Abstract

A recording system for securely recording an event, the system including: a capturing device for an owner to capture signals from the event, and for converting the signals into digital data; a public-key encrypting mechanism, configured to use a public key of an asymmetric key-pair, for encrypting the data into encrypted data; a non-volatile storage device for storing the encrypted data; and a private-key decrypting mechanism, configured to use a private key of the asymmetric key-pair, for decrypting the encrypted data stored in the storage device only upon using the private key, wherein the private key is securely maintained with a trusted private-key holder, and wherein the trusted private-key holder is at least one entity other than the owner of the capturing device. Preferably, the trusted private-key holder is operative to decrypt the encrypted data only upon receiving an authorization from an authorized entity.

Claims

1. A recording system for securely recording an event, the system comprising:

(a) a capturing device for an owner to capture signals from the event, and for converting said signals into digital data;

(b) a public-key encrypting mechanism, configured to use a public key of an asymmetric key-pair, for encrypting said data into encrypted data;

(c) a non-volatile storage device for storing said encrypted data; and

(d) a private-key decrypting mechanism, configured to use a private key of said asymmetric key-pair, for decrypting said encrypted data stored in said storage device only upon using said private key, wherein said private key is securely maintained with a trusted private-key holder, and wherein said trusted private-key holder is at least one entity other than said owner of said capturing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said capturing device includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a camera, a microphone, a video recorder, and an audio recorder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said public key is provided by said trusted private-key holder to said encrypting mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said trusted private-key holder is operative to decrypt said encrypted data only upon receiving an authorization from an authorized entity.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said trusted private-key holder is operative to re-encrypt said encrypted data, after being decrypted using said private key, and to provide re-encrypted data and an authorized-entity key to said authorized-entity.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said authorized entity is at least one entity other than said owner of said capturing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage device is a flash memory device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said capturing device, said encrypting mechanism, and said storage device are housed in a single housing.

9. A method for securely recording an event, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing signals from the event in a capturing device by an owner;

(b) converting said signals to digital data in said capturing device;

(c) encrypting said data using a public-key encrypting mechanism, configured to use a public key of an asymmetric key-pair, for encrypting said data into encrypted data;

(d) storing said data after encryption in a storage device; and

(e) decrypting said data, using a private-key decrypting mechanism, configured to use a private key of said asymmetric key-pair, for decrypting said encrypted data stored in said storage device only upon using said private key, wherein said private key is securely maintained with a trusted private-key holder, and wherein said trusted private-key holder is at least one entity other than said owner of said capturing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said capturing device includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a camera, a microphone, a video recorder, and an audio recorder.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said public key is provided by said trusted private-key holder to said encrypting mechanism.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said trusted private-key holder is operative to decrypt said encrypted data only upon receiving an authorization from an authorized entity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said trusted private-key holder is operative to re-encrypt said encrypted data, after being decrypted using said private key, and to provide re-encrypted data and an authorized-entity key to said authorized-entity.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said authorized entity is at least one entity other than said owner of said capturing device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said storage device is a flash memory device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said capturing device, said encrypting mechanism, and said storage device are housed in a single housing.