Strategic digital media encryption

A method of strategically securing media data using circuitry configured to perform the method, the method comprising:

• encrypting header fields and side-information fields within respective packets of a compressed, packetized media file to obfuscate unencrypted payload fields within the packets to establish partially encrypted packets;
• storing the partially encrypted packets within a nonvolatile storage for later retrieval, decryption and playback, wherein the partially encrypted packets constitute at least a portion of a partially encrypted instance of the compressed, packetized media file;
• generating a packet location table that indicates respective storage locations, within the nonvolatile storage, of the partially encrypted packets;
• encrypting the packet location table;
• storing the encrypted packet location table within the nonvolatile storage as part of the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file, at a beginning of the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file such that a decryption process begins with decrypting the encrypted packet location table first;
• retrieving the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file from the nonvolatile storage and executing a playback of media data within the unencrypted payload fields thereof, wherein the retrieving comprises:
• first retrieving and decrypting the encrypted packet location table from the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file from the nonvolatile storage to produce a decrypted packet location table, and
• then retrieving the partially encrypted packets of the packetized media file from the nonvolatile storage based on storage location information provided by the decrypted packet location table.

A media storage and playback apparatus comprising a nonvolatile storage and circuitry to:

• encrypt header fields and side-information fields within respective packets of a compressed, packetized media file to obfuscate unencrypted payload fields within the packets to establish partially encrypted packets;
• store the partially encrypted packets within a nonvolatile storage for later retrieval, decryption and playback, wherein the partially encrypted packets constitute at least a portion of a partially encrypted instance of the compressed, packetized media file;
• generate a packet location table that indicates respective storage locations, within the nonvolatile storage, of the partially encrypted packets;
• encrypt the packet location table;
• and
• store the encrypted packet location table within the nonvolatile storage as part of the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file, at a beginning of the partially encrypted, compressed, packetized media file such that a decryption process of the packetized media file begins with decrypting the encrypted packet location table first.