Electronic file access control system and method
AssigneeNBC Universal, Inc.
InventorJeffrey Edward Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digital file is associated with a header in which identification data for a physical key is stored. The digital file content is encrypted, and may not be decrypted by a receiving computer unless a removable physical key that can be associated with the receiving computer includes identification data which matches the identification data stored in the file header. The digital content encrypted in the file may be compressed, and the header may also be encrypted. When the header is encrypted, the receiving computer may decrypt only the header unless the identification data of the header matches the identification data for a removable physical key. Improved security and reduction of pirating of the digital content are therefore provided.
Claims26
A method for controlling access to a digital file, comprising:
- on a reading computer, accessing an encrypted file, the file including a header and encrypted digital content, the header including data identifying a permitted access identity corresponding to a physical key removable from the reading computer;
- comparing the permitted access identity in the header to identity data of a physical key removably coupled to the reading computer;
- and
- decrypting the encrypted digital content only if the identity data of the physical key matches the permitted access identity in the header.
A method for controlling access to a digital file, comprising:
- associating digital content with a header, the header including data identifying a permitted access identity corresponding to a physical key removable from a reading computer;
- encrypting the header and the digital content, the header being susceptible to decryption separate from the content by a key interface.
A system for controlling access to a digital file, comprising:
- an encrypted file including a header and encrypted digital content, the header including data identifying a permitted access identity corresponding to a physical key removable from a reading computer;
- a key interface configured to decrypt the encrypted header, to compare the permitted access identity to identity data of a physical key removably coupled to a reading computer, and to decrypt the encrypted content only if the identity data of the physical key matches the permitted access identity of the header.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.