Encoder, decoder and methods employing partial data encryption

A method of encoding and encrypting an input data (D1) to generate corresponding encoded and encrypted data (E2), the method comprising:

• (a) encoding the input data (D1) using a plurality of coding methods to generate a plurality of intermediate encoded data streams, wherein the plurality of intermediate encoded data streams comprises at least two encoded critical data streams and one or more remaining encoded data streams, and wherein at least one of the at least two encoded critical data streams comprise information indicating a plurality of encoding methods used to encode at least a portion of the input data (D1) to the plurality of the intermediate encoded data streams, and wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams represent only a part of the plurality of intermediate encoded data streams, and wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams are required to decode the one or more remaining encoded data streams, and wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams comprise information indicative of at least one of:
• a plurality of split and/or combine operations that are employed to divide and/or combine the input data (D1) into the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more encoding methods that are employed for encoding information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more entropy-encoding methods that are employed for entropy-encoding the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets into a plurality of entropy-encoded data bocks and/or data packets and/or a length of the plurality of entropy-encoded data blocks and/or data packets in the entropy-encoded data streams, and/or a length of one or more of the data blocks and/or data packets in the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets prior to encoding being applied;
• (b) encrypting the at least two encoded critical data streams using one or more encryption algorithms to generate at least two intermediate encrypted data streams;
• and
• (c) merging unencrypted portions of the plurality of intermediate encoded data streams together with the at least two intermediate encrypted data streams to generate the encoded and encrypted data (E2).

An apparatus (120) for decrypting and decoding encoded and encrypted data (E2) to generate corresponding decrypted and decoded data (D3), wherein the apparatus (120) comprises a hardware processor configured to execute non-transitory program instructions, and wherein the hardware processor is configured to:

• (i) process the encoded and encrypted data (E2) to determine one or more encrypted portions and one or more unencrypted portions thereof, wherein the one or more unencrypted portions of the encoded and encrypted data (E2) comprise encoded information of a plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, and wherein the one or more encrypted portions comprise at least two encoded critical data streams, wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams are required to decode the one or more remaining encoded data streams;
• and wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams comprise information indicative of at least one of:
• a plurality of split and/or combine operations that are employed to divide and/or combine the input data (D1) into the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more encoding methods that are employed for encoding information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more entropy-encoding methods that are employed for entropy-encoding the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets into a plurality of entropy-encoded data bocks and/or data packets and/or a length of the plurality of entropy-encoded data blocks and/or data packets in the entropy-encoded data streams, and/or a length of one or more of the data blocks and/or data packets in the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets prior to encoding being applied;
• (ii) decrypt the one or more encrypted portions to determine sizes and/or relative positions and/or the plurality of encoding methods that are associated with the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets;
• (iii) apply an inverse of the plurality of encoding methods to the encoded information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to decode the encoded information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to generate a plurality of decoded data blocks and/or data packets;
• and
• (iv) assemble the plurality of decoded data blocks and/or data packets based on the sizes and/or relative positions associated with the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to generate the decrypted and decoded data (D3).

A method of decrypting and decoding encoded and encrypted data (E2) to generate corresponding decrypted and decoded data (D3), the method comprising:

• (i) processing the encoded and encrypted data (E2) to determine one or more encrypted portions and one or more unencrypted portions thereof, wherein the one or more unencrypted portions of the encoded and encrypted data (E2) comprise encoded information of a plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, and wherein the one or more encrypted portions comprise at least two encoded critical data streams, wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams are required to decode the one or more remaining encoded data streams, and wherein the at least two encoded critical data streams comprise information indicative of at least one of:
• a plurality of split and/or combine operations that are employed to divide and/or combine the input data (D1) into the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more encoding methods that are employed for encoding information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets, one or more entropy-encoding methods that are employed for entropy-encoding the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets into a plurality of entropy-encoded data bocks and/or data packets and/or a length of the plurality of entropy-encoded data blocks and/or data packets in the entropy-encoded data streams, and/or a length of one or more of the data blocks and/or data packets in the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets prior to encoding being applied;
• (ii) decrypting the one or more encrypted portions to determine sizes and/or relative positions and/or the plurality of encoding methods that are associated with the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets;
• (iii) applying an inverse of the plurality of encoding methods to the encoded information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to decode the encoded information of the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to generate a plurality of decoded data blocks and/or data packets;
• and
• (iv) assembling the plurality of decoded data blocks and/or data packets based on the sizes and/or relative positions associated with the plurality of data blocks and/or data packets to generate the decrypted and decoded data (D3).