Method and apparatus for partial encryption of content

• US 20020108035A1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Herley, Cormac, Xu, Yihong
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 5/00 Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/302 involving the integer factorization problem, e.g. RSA or quadratic sieve [QS] schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus that partially encrypt an information data file. An exemplary method includes dividing the information file into a first file and a second file, wherein the second file includes content from the information file to preclude reconstruction of the information file using only the first file, and encrypting the second file. Additionally, the method provides for transmitting the first file and the encrypted second file from a first device to a second device.

Claims

1. A method of partially encrypting an information file for delivery of content comprising:

dividing an information file into a first file and a second file, wherein the second file includes content from the information file to preclude reconstruction of the information file using only the first file; and

encrypting the second file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the first file and the encrypted second file to a device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first file and the encrypted second file are transmitted via the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting includes:

using an RSA algorithm.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising:

adding use limitations to the second file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein dividing the information file comprises:

selecting parts from the information file via a user selected pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein dividing the information file comprises:

selecting parts from the information file via a default pattern related to content contained in the information file, to form the second file.

8. A method of receiving an information file in a device comprising:

receiving a first file and a second file, wherein the second file is encrypted and includes content from the information file to preclude reconstruction of the information file using only the first file;

decrypting the second file;

combining the first file and the decrypted second file to reconstruct a usable version of the information file.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first file and the encrypted second file are received via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second file is encrypted with an RSA algorithm.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein decrypting the second file comprises:

decoding use limitations; and

limiting the use of the reconstructed file in accordance with the use limitations.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication path is the Internet.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second file is encrypted using a RSA algorithm.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the server comprises:

logic that includes use limitations with encryption of the second file.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the server comprises:

logic that selects parts from the information file that form the second file via a user selected pattern.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the server comprises:

logic that selects parts from the information file that form the second file via a default pattern related to the content contained in the information file.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is at least one of a personal computer, a printer and a digital appliance.

12. A system for partially encrypting an information file for delivery comprising:

a server that divides an information file into a first file and a second file, wherein the second file includes content from the information file to preclude reconstruction of the information file using only the first file, and that encrypts the second file;

a device that receives the first file and the encrypted second file, that decrypts the second file, and that combines the first file and the decrypted second file to reconstruct a usable version of the information file; and

a communication path that operably interconnects the server and the device.