Apparatus, method and system for generating a unique hardware adaptation inseparable from correspondingly unique content

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus, method and system for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from selected content. Either the adaptive circuit or encrypted, selected content has a unique identifier. In one of the preferred method and system embodiments in which the adaptive circuit has the unique identifier, a request for the selected content is received, along with the unique identifier, such as by a network server. The selected content is then encrypted, based upon the unique identifier, to form encrypted content. Configuration information for the adaptive circuit, corresponding to the unique identifier and the encrypted content, is generated to form corresponding configuration information. A service provider, such as through a network server, transfers the encrypted content and the corresponding configuration information to the adaptive circuit having the unique identifier, which may then be configured for use of the selected content. As a consequence, the present invention creates adaptive hardware configurations which are uniquely coupled to the selected content.

1 . A method for generating control information for a device for authorized use of selected content, the method comprising: 
 (a) encrypting the selected content, based upon a unique identifier, to form encrypted content;    (b) generating control information for the device, the control information corresponding to the unique identifier; and    (c) transferring the encrypted content and the control information to the device for the use of the selected content.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control information further corresponds uniquely to the selected content or the encrypted content.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (d) when the encrypted content and the control information is received by the device, using the control information, configuring or programming the device to enable use of the selected content.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control information comprises executable decryption object code or source code.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the device is programmed by the executable decryption object code or source code to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control information comprises interconnection configuration information or routing information.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control information comprises operating mode software.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of the following unique identifiers: a serial number of the device or a public key.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the encrypting step (a) further comprises one-time pad encrypting or public key encrypting.  
   
   
       10 . A system for generating control information for a device for authorized use of selected content, the system comprising: 
 an interface for transferring encrypted content and control information for transmission to the device; and    a processor coupled to the interface, the processor adapted to encrypt the selected content, based upon a unique identifier, to form the encrypted content, and to generate control information for the device, the control information corresponding to the unique identifier.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control information further corresponds uniquely to the selected content or the encrypted content.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control information comprises executable decryption object code or source code.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control information comprises operating mode software.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control information comprises interconnection configuration information or routing information.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the unique identifier is at least one of the following unique identifiers: a serial number of the device or a public key.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is adapted to encrypt the selected content utilizing one-time pad encryption or utilizing public key encryption  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system is embodied in at least one of the following systems: a network server; an adjunct network entity; a computer; or an adaptive circuit.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for utilizing selected content, the apparatus comprising: 
 an interface for receiving encrypted content corresponding to a unique identifier and control information corresponding to the unique identifier;    a processor coupled to the memory and to the interface, the processor adapted to decrypt the encrypted content utilizing the control information to form the selected content.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the control information further corresponds uniquely to the selected content or the encrypted content.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the control information comprises executable decryption object code or source code.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is programmed by the executable decryption object code or source code to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the control information comprises interconnection configuration information or routing information.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the corresponding control information comprises operating mode software.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of the following unique identifiers: a serial number of the device or a public key.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is embodied in at least one of the following devices: an MP3 player; an MPEG decoder; a DVD player; a video player; a multimedia player; a television; a television cable receiver; a computer; or an adaptive circuit.  
   
   
       26 . A method for generating control information for a device for authorized use of selected content, the selected content having been encrypted to form encrypted content, the encrypted content having a unique identifier, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving the unique identifier;    (b) generating control information for the device, the control information corresponding to the unique identifier; and    (c) transferring the control information to the device having the encrypted content with the unique identifier.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 (d) when the encrypted content and the control information is received by the device, using the control information, configuring or programming the device for decryption of the encrypted content and use of the selected content.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the control information comprises at least one of the following types of control information: executable decryption object code, executable decryption source code, interconnection configuration information, routing information, or operating mode software.  
   
   
       29 . A system for generating control information for a device for authorized use of selected content, the selected content having been encrypted to form encrypted content, the encrypted content having a unique identifier, the system comprising: 
 an interface for receiving the unique identifier and for transferring control information for transmission to the device; and    a processor coupled to the interface, the processor adapted to generate control information for the device, the control information corresponding to the unique identifier.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the control information comprises at least one of the following types of control information: executable decryption object code, executable decryption source code, interconnection configuration information, routing information, or operating mode software.  
   
   
       31 . A method for encrypting an executable module, the executable module having control information combined with selected content, the control information for programming or configuring a device for use of the selected content, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a request for the selected content;    (b) combining the selected content with control information to form the executable module; and    (c) using a unique identifier, encrypting the executable module to form an encrypted executable module.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 (d) transferring the encrypted executable module to the device, the device storing the unique identifier.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 (d) transferring the encrypted executable module and the unique identifier to the device.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 when the encrypted executable module is received by the device, decrypting the encrypted executable module; and    using the control information, programming or configuring the device for use of the selected content.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the control information comprises at least one of the following types of control information: executable decryption object code, executable decryption source code, interconnection configuration information, routing information, or operating mode software.