Digital video recorder employing a unique ID to interlock with encrypted video programs stored on a storage device

• US 6,853,731 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2000
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation), KEEN Personal Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation), KEEN Personal Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Boyle, William B., Rice, Alan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/676,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,592 Days
• Field of Search: 380/268, 380/202, 380/210
• US Class Current: 380/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/101 by binding digital rights to specific entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

The present invention may be regarded as a digital video recorder (DVR) comprising a storage device for storing an encrypted video program, a unique ID for interlocking the encrypted video program with the digital video recorder, and a cryptography facility. The cryptography facility comprises an encoder, responsive to the unique ID, for encrypting a plaintext video program into the encrypted video program stored on the storage device, and a decoder, responsive to the unique ID, for decrypting the encrypted video program stored on the storage device into the plaintext video program during playback.

Claims

1. A digital video recorder comprising:

(a) a storage device for storing an encrypted video program; and

(b) a unique ID for interlocking the encrypted video program with the digital video recorder; and

(c) a cryptography facility comprising;

an encoder, responsive to the unique ID, for encrypting a plaintext video program into the encrypted video program stored on the storage device; and

a decoder, responsive to the unique ID, for decrypting the encrypted video program stored on the storage device into the plaintext video program during playback.

2. The digital video recorder as recited in claim 1, wherein the cryptography facility further comprises a key generator for generating a key from the unique ID.

3. The digital video recorder as recited in claim 2, wherein the cryptography facility further comprises a pseudo-random sequence generator for generating a pseudo-random sequence, and the key generator comprises a seed value generator for generating a seed value from the unique ID, wherein the seed value for initializing the pseudo-random sequence generator.

4. The digital video recorder as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

5. A method of processing video programs in a digital video recorder comprising a storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) encrypting a plaintext video program into an encrypted video program using a unique ID associated with the digital video recorder to interlock the encrypted video program with the digital video recorder;

(b) storing the encrypted video program on the storage device;

(c) reading the encrypted video program from the storage device; and

(d) decrypting the encrypted video program into the plaintext video program using the unique ID.

6. The method of processing video programs as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of generating a key from the unique ID.

7. The method of processing video programs as recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of generating a pseudo-random sequence using the key, wherein the key comprises a seed value for initializing a pseudo-random sequence generator.

8. The method of processing video programs as recited in claim 5, wherein the storage device comprises a hard disk drive.