Steganographic Content Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack the ability to control and selectively distribute supplemental electronic content, which may be sensitive or proprietary, ensuring access only to authorized users, while maintaining security and privacy.
Innovation Solution
The integration of supplemental content with original content using steganographic techniques, where the supplemental content is encrypted and embedded within the original content, allowing only authorized users with the proper decryption key to access it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If supplemental content is distributed along with original content, then users can access related information, but unauthorized users may access sensitive supplemental content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments content into original content and supplemental content, with different access rights assigned to each. The supplemental content is further segmented into multiple encrypted portions that can be selectively decrypted based on user authorization levels, allowing fine-grained control over who accesses what information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic keys as an intermediary mechanism between the supplemental content and unauthorized users. These keys act as mediators that control access - authorized users receive appropriate keys to decrypt specific portions of supplemental content, while unauthorized users cannot obtain the keys needed to access sensitive information.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If supplemental content is encrypted and embedded in original content, then unauthorized access is prevented, but detection and extraction of supplemental content becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs steganographic techniques that subtly modify the original content in imperceptible ways, analogous to color changes. These modifications embed the encrypted supplemental content within the original content without altering its apparent appearance or functionality, making the embedded content undetectable to unauthorized parties while remaining recoverable by authorized users with the proper keys.
3Ease of operation
If supplemental content is made accessible to all users, then convenience is improved, but security requirements are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic access control where the accessibility of supplemental content changes based on user authorization status. Authorized users experience convenient access to relevant supplemental content through automatic key distribution and decryption, while unauthorized users automatically encounter access restrictions. This dynamic behavior maintains security requirements while preserving ease of operation for legitimate users.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems to allow for selective access to supplemental content that is associated with more generally distributed original content. In an embodiment, supplemental content may be encrypted, then integrated with original content using a steganographic technique. The resulting aggregated content may then be made available to users. Users may then extract the encrypted supplemental content from the original content. Those users having the proper privilege level may be given a cryptographic key to allow decryption of the supplemental content. Those without the necessary privilege will not be given this decryption key, and will therefore be unable to access the supplemental content.