Steganographic techniques for securely delivering electronic digital rights management control information over insecure communication channels

A method including the following:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file;
• at said first apparatus, receiving a first control set made up of at least one control separately from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, opening said first secure digital container;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, said use including
• determining whether a conversion of at least a portion of said controlled item is authorized;
• converting said portion of said controlled item if said conversion is authorized and storing said converted portion;
• and
• failing to convert said portion if said conversion is not authorized.

A method including the following:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file;
• at said first apparatus, receiving a first control set made up of at least one control separately from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, opening said first secure digital container;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, said use including:
• gaining access to information regarding at least one aspect of a second apparatus;
• determining whether transmitting said portion of said controlled item is authorized based at least in part on said second apparatus information;
• and
• if transmitting is authorized, transmitting said portion of said controlled item from said first apparatus to said second apparatus.

A method including the following:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file;
• at said first apparatus, receiving a first control set made up of at least one control separately from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, opening said first secure digital container;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said file, said use including directly or indirectly providing payment-related information to a second apparatus.

A method including:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file, said information including a first control set made up of at least one control;
• at said first apparatus, retrieving at least a portion of said controlled item from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, steganographically recovering said first control set from said controlled item;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, said use including:
• determining user information related to the age of a user of said apparatus;
• determining whether said user's age is equal to or greater than a threshold;
• allowing said user to complete at least one access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item if said user's age is equal to or greater than said threshold;
• and
• blocking said user from completion of at least one access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item if said user's age is less than said threshold.

A method including:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file, said information including a first control set made up of at least one control;
• at said first apparatus, retrieving at least a portion of said controlled item from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, steganographically recovering said first control set from said controlled item;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, including
• determining whether a conversion of at least a portion of said controlled item is authorized;
• converting said portion of said controlled item if said conversion is authorized and storing said converted portion;
• and
• failing to perform said conversion if said conversion is not authorized.

A method including:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file, said information including a first control set made up of at least one control;
• at said first apparatus, retrieving at least a portion of said controlled item from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, steganographically recovering said first control set from said controlled item;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, including:
• gaining access to information regarding at least one aspect of a second apparatus;
• determining whether transmitting said portion of said controlled item to said second apparatus is authorized based at least in part on said second apparatus information;
• and
• if transmission is authorized, transmitting said portion from said first apparatus to said second apparatus.

A method including:

• at a first apparatus, receiving a first secure digital container including a controlled item, said controlled item including a file and information steganographically encoded into said file, said information including a first control set made up of at least one control;
• at said first apparatus, retrieving at least a portion of said controlled item from said first secure digital container;
• at said first apparatus, steganographically recovering said first control set from said controlled item;
• and
• at said first apparatus, using said first control set to control at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item, including directly or indirectly providing payment-related information to a second apparatus.

An apparatus including the following elements:

• a portable memory reader;
• a processing unit;
• a memory;
• and
• a portable memory including:
• a first secure digital container,
• a controlled item and information steganographically encoded in said controlled item;
• and
• control information relating to at least one aspect of control of said controlled item, including a control based at least in part based on information relating to the age of a user of said apparatus.

An apparatus including the following elements:

• a portable memory reader;
• a processing unit;
• a memory;
• and
• a portable memory including:
• a first secure digital container,
• a controlled item and information steganographically encoded in said controlled item;
• and
• control information including at least one control at least in part controlling when at least a portion of said item is capable of being converted from a first format to a second format and of being stored in said second format.

A secure digital container including:

• an encrypted controlled item comprising digital information;
• first control information steganographically encoded into said controlled item;
• second control information;
• said first or second control information including information relating to the age of a user;
• and
• a cryptographic key capable of being used to at least in part decrypt said controlled item.

A secure digital container including:

• an encrypted controlled item comprising digital information;
• first control information steganographically encoded into said controlled item;
• second control information;
• said first or second control information including at least one control at least in part controlling whether at least a portion of said item is capable of being converted from a first format to a second format and of being stored in said second format;
• and
• a cryptographic key capable of being used to at least in part decrypt said controlled item.

A secure digital container including:

• encrypted controlled contents comprising digital information;
• a first digital control of a first entity, said first digital control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled contents;
• a second digital control of a second entity different from said first entity, said second digital control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled contents;
• said first or second digital controls including at least one control based at least in part on information relating to the age of a user;
• and
• information steganographically encoded in said controlled contents.

A secure digital container including:

• encrypted controlled contents comprising digital information;
• a first digital control of a first entity, said first digital control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled contents;
• a second digital control of a second entity different from said first entity, said second digital control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled contents;
• said first or second digital controls including at least one control at least in part controlling whether at least a portion of said item is capable of being converted from a first format to a second format and of being stored in said second format;
• and
• information steganographicalIV encoded in said controlled contents.

A secure digital container including:

• a controlled item comprising digital information, said controlled item being at least in part encrypted;
• a first control steganographically encoded into at least a portion of said controlled item, said first control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item;
• a second control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item;
• said second control being different from said first control;
• said first or second controls including at least one control based at least in part on information relating to the age of a user of said apparatus.

A secure digital container including:

• a controlled item comprising digital information, said controlled item being at least in part encrypted;
• a first control steganographically encoded into at least a portion said controlled item, said first control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item;
• a second control controlling at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said controlled item;
• said second control being different from said first control
• said first or second controls including at least one control at least in part controlling whether at least a portion of said item is capable of being converted from a first format to a second format and of being stored in said second format.