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 configurable 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 configurable device, the control information, the control information including configuration data for changing interconnections between computational elements of the configurable device to perform a function, 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 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 further comprises one-time pad encrypting or public key encrypting. 
   
   
       10 . A system for generating control information for a configurable device for authorized use of selected content, the system comprising:
 an interface for transferring encrypted content and control information for transmission to the configurable 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 including configuration data for changing interconnections between computational elements of the configurable device to perform a function for the configurable 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 . A configurable apparatus for utilizing selected content, the configurable apparatus comprising:
 an interface for receiving encrypted content corresponding to a unique identifier and configuration information corresponding to the unique identifier, the configuration information including data for changing interconnections between computational elements of the configurable apparatus to perform a function;   a processor coupled to the memory and to the interface, the processor adapted to decrypt the encrypted content utilizing the configuration information to form the selected content.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the configuration information further corresponds uniquely to the selected content or the encrypted content. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the configuration 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 configuration information comprises routing information. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the corresponding configuration 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 - 35 . (canceled)