System for keying protected electronic data to particular media to prevent unauthorized copying using a compound key
View Patent ↗A system an method for distribution of electronic data over a network infrastructure that includes a client device for operation by a user desiring to receive the electronic data and server that contains the electronic data and offering the electronic data for downloading to the client device via the network infrastructure. The client device communicates a compound data key that includes a unique serial number associated with a particular piece of media to which the electronic data is to be stored to the server, vendor information and user information. The server encrypts the electronic data using the compound key, and downloads the encrypted electronic data to the client computer, where the client computer writes the encrypted electronic data to the particular piece of media such that the encrypted electronic data may only be accessed from the particular piece of media. The electronic data is decrypted for use by the apparatus or another device attached to the apparatus using the compound key as a data key, and the data is accessible from only the one piece of media having the unique serial number and is not accessible from any other media having a different or no identifier. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus for reading the encrypted electronic data is connected to a general purpose computer having a media drive which reads the unique serial number and the electronic data from the one piece of media. The apparatus comprises an application specific integrated circuit which controls and executes instructions to accept the electronic data and the unique serial number from the general purpose computer.
1. A method of accessing encrypted electronic data stored on a media, said method comprising:
accessing electronic data on said media;
determining that said electronic data is encrypted electronic data;
obtaining a unique identifier permanently recorded on said media;
generating a compound key in accordance with a predetermined operation using said unique identifier as input;
reading at least a portion of said encrypted electronic data from said media;
decrypting said encrypted electronic data using said compound key as a decryption key;
reading said unique identifier from a predetermined track of said media;
obtaining vendor information; and
obtaining user information,
wherein said unique identifier, said vendor information and said user information are used by said predetermined operation to generate said compound key.
2. A method of accessing encrypted electronic data stored on a media, said method comprising:
accessing electronic data on said media;
determining that said electronic data is encrypted electronic data;
obtaining a unique identifier permanently recorded on said media;
generating a compound key in accordance with a predetermined operation using said unique identifier as input;
reading at least a portion of said encrypted electronic data from said media;
decrypting said encrypted electronic data using said compound key as a decryption key;
wherein said generating said compound key further comprises communicating said compound key to a second device, and said reading at least a portion of said electronic data further comprises communicating said portion of said electronic data to said second device, wherein said second device performs said decrypting said electronic data using said compound key as a decryption key;
communicating from said second device an authentication code;
receiving said authentication code;
determining that said authentication code is the same as said unique identifier;
generating a verification code; and
communicating said verification code to said second device.
3. An apparatus for reading encrypted electronic data associated to one piece of media, comprising:
a processor which controls and executes instructions to read electronic data and a unique identifier from said one piece of media,
said processor configured to generate a compound key with a predetermined operation using said unique identifier and vendor information and user information as input,
said unique identifier permanently recorded on said one piece of media; and
a media drive, responsive to said processor,
said media drive configured to
read said unique identifier,
read at least a portion of said encrypted electronic data associated to said one piece of media,
wherein said encrypted electronic data is decrypted for use by said apparatus or another device attached to said apparatus using said compound key as a decryption key, and
wherein said decrypted electronic data is accessible from only said one piece of media having said unique identifier.
4. A method of electronically distributing electronic data from a first media to a second media within a device, said method comprising:
accessing said second media;
reading a unique identifier from a predetermined location on said second media, said unique identifier permanently recorded on said second media;
obtaining vendor information;
obtaining user information;
generating a compound key in accordance with a predetermined operation using said unique identifier, said vendor information, and said user information as input;
reading said electronic data from said first media;
encrypting said electronic data using said compound key as an encryption key; and
writing said encrypted electronic data to said second media, such that information represented by said encrypted electronic data may be accessed for use from only said second media, and wherein data on said second media other than said encrypted electronic data may be copied to and accessed from another medium, free of encryption constraints imposed upon said encrypted electronic data.