Compressed Video Scrambling for Secure Content Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distribution of high-quality, high-resolution video content over open operating system-based Smart Devices is hindered by the risk of unauthorized copying, as existing content protection methods are cumbersome and burdensome for developers, and may require trusted environments that are not always feasible.
Innovation Solution
A video scrambling mechanism is implemented in the compressed domain, which scrambles the video in a reversible manner to create perceptible visual disturbances, making illicit copying difficult, while maintaining compatibility with standard video decoders and profiles, and a descrambling mechanism in the pixel domain ensures the original content quality is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content protection measures are implemented on open operating systems, then content security is improved, but device complexity and implementation burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable, easily implementable scrambling techniques instead of complex trusted environment infrastructure. The scrambling is applied temporarily to the video stream using simple operations like frame reordering or pixel manipulation, requiring no permanent security infrastructure or certification processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the video stream (reordering frames, modifying pixel values) to create scrambled output without changing the underlying system architecture or requiring additional security hardware. This allows content protection through simple parameter manipulation rather than complex system-level changes.
2Reliability
If trusted environment with certificates is used for content protection, then content security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to certification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content protection function from the complex trusted environment infrastructure and implements it as a simple scrambling operation on the video stream. This removes the need for certificates, security keys, and certification processes while maintaining protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrambling mechanism is self-contained and does not require external security infrastructure or certification authorities. The system protects its own content through internal scrambling operations without needing to interact with external trusted environment components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If video scrambling creates perceptible visual disturbances, then copying difficulty is improved, but video quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic scrambling techniques where the scrambling parameters change over time or based on content characteristics. This allows the visual disturbances to be sufficient for protection while maintaining overall video quality, as the scrambling is adaptive rather than static and uniform throughout the entire video.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies scrambling selectively to certain portions of the video or uses moderate scrambling intensity that provides sufficient protection without excessively degrading quality. The scrambling is applied at the level needed for protection rather than maximum intensity throughout.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for decoding a compressed video is disclosed. The method comprises scrambling the compressed video, to produce a scrambled compressed video; delivering the scrambled compressed video to a decoder, for decoding the scrambled compressed video to produce a scrambled decompressed video; receiving from the decoder the scrambled decompressed video; and descrambling the scrambled decompressed video, to produce a descrambled decompressed video.