Digital content protection systems and methods

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

an input module configured to receive a first data segment;

an identifier module having a hard coded identifier;

a processing module coupled to the input module and coupled to the identifier module and configured to process the first data segment with the hard coded identifier to generate a first error correction code;

an output module configured to transfer the first error correction code for storage on a storage system;

wherein the input module is further configured to receive a second data segment and a second error correction code; and

wherein the processing module is further configured to process the second data segment with the second error correction code to generate a first result, process the first result with the hard coded identifier to generate a second result, and process the second data segment with the second result to correct the second data segment.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the identifier module comprises a plurality of inputs connected to the processing module wherein the hard coded identifier is identified by setting the plurality of inputs during a manufacturing process.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of pins.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of fuses.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of electrical inputs.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of current inputs.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of voltage inputs.

8. A method of operating an integrated circuit comprising an input module, an output module, and a processing module coupled to the input module and the output module, the method comprising:

in the input module, receiving a first data segment;

in the processing module, reading a hard coded identifier from an identifier module coupled to the processing module, processing the first data segment with the hard coded identifier to generate a first error correction code;

in the output module, transferring the first error correction code for storage on a storage system;

in the input module, receiving a second data segment and a second error correction code; and

in the processing module, processing the second data segment with the second error correction code to generate a first result, processing the first result with the hard coded identifier to generate a second result, and processing the second data segment with the second result to correct the second data segment.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the identifier module comprises a plurality of inputs connected to the processing module wherein the hard coded identifier is identified by setting the plurality of inputs during a manufacturing process.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of pins.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of fuses.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of electrical inputs.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 12 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of current inputs.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 12 wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of voltage inputs.

15. A device comprising:

a storage medium; and

a host system having a plurality of system elements and a storage control system for controlling data transfer between the plurality of system elements and the storage medium, the storage control system comprising:

a content protection system configured to receive a first data segment from a one of the plurality of system elements, read a hard coded identifier, process the first data segment with the hard coded identifier to generate a first error correction code, and transfer the first error correction code for storage on the storage medium; and

a transfer system configured to transfer the first data segment with the first error correction code to the storage medium; and

wherein the content protection system is further configured to receive a second data segment and a second error correction code, process the second data segment with the second error correction code to generate a first result, process the first result with the hard coded identifier to generate a second result, and process the second data segment with the second result to correct the second data segment.