Method of reading, encrypting and transferring data

Details Method of reading, encrypting and transferring data Method of reading, encrypting and transferring data

1998-11-24

2001-12-25

Peeso, Thomas R. (Department: 2132)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support

Multiple computer communication using cryptography

Particular communication authentication technique

C713S151000, C713S161000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06334186

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of data transfer, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and a method of reading, encrypting, and transferring data read from a recording medium to an external device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Providing digital storage media, such as digital video disks (DVD), with copy protection mechanisms for protecting copyrighted data has become increasingly important It is desirable that a signal processor performing copy protection functions be implemented using a single chip processor. The signal processor must perform quantitative arithmetic processing, such as encryption, on the data read from the storage medium. The processed data is then transferred to an external unit or device, such as a personal computer. It would be advantageous to increase the speed of processing and transferring the data read from the recording medium to the personal computer.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram of a conventional DVD unit
50
. Specifically, the DVD unit
50
for reading an optical disk
51
serving as a recording medium comprises: a DVD controller
53
which functions as a signal processor, a memory (DRAM)
54
which provides a temporary storage space for data read from the optical disk
51
, and a micro processing unit (MPU)
55
which controls the signal processing operation of the DVD controller
53
. The DVD controller
53
reads data recorded on the optical disk
51
and applies quantitative arithmetic processing or encryption processing on the data before it is transferred to an external unit such as a personal computer
52
.
Specifically, the DVD controller
53
comprises an error correction circuit
58
, an encryption circuit
56
for encrypting the data read from the optical disk
51
and stored in the DRAM
54
, and an external interface (I/F) circuit
57
for enabling data communication with the personal computer
52
. The encryption circuit
56
comprises a cipher generator circuit
56
a
and an encryption arithmetic circuit
56
b
, which uses cipher data generated by the cipher generator circuit
56
a
to apply an arithmetic operation on the data read from the DRAM
54
and stores the processed data back in the DRAM
54
as encrypted data.
The DVD controller
53
also transfers the encrypted data stored in the DRAM
54
to the personal computer
52
through the interface circuit
57
. The personal computer
52
then decodes the encrypted and transferred data to recover the data read from the optical disk
51
.
As a result of the ever increasing processing speeds of personal computers, there is a demand imposed on the DVD controller
53
to decrease the processing time required to read and encrypt the data read from the optical disk
51
.
However, the processing operation for the encryption requires:
(1) transferring the data stored in the DRAM
54
to the encryption circuit;
(2) transferring the encrypted data from the encryption circuit to the DRAM
54
; and
(3) transferring the encrypted data stored in the DRAM
54
to the interface circuit
57
.
Thus, the DVD controller
53
must perform three accesses to the DRAM
54
, which stands in the way of achieving a higher rate of data throughput.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data transfer method and a signal processor which enable a high rate of data transfer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a data transfer method consisting essentially of the steps of: successively reading data to be transferred which is stored in a memory; applying quantitative signal processing to the read data; and transferring the processed data directly to an external unit.
The present invention further provides a signal processor, comprising: a memory for storing data to be transferred; an arithmetic circuit for successively receiving data to be transferred from the memory and successively applying signal processing to the data using quantitative data; and an interface for receiving the processed data directly from the arithmetic circuit and for successively transferring the processed data to an external unit.
The present invention provides a signal processor, comprising: a memory for storing data to be transferred; an encryption arithmetic circuit for successively receiving the data to be transferred from the memory and for successively encrypting the data using cipher data to produce encrypted data; and an interface for receiving the encrypted data directly from the encryption arithmetic circuit and successively transferring the encrypted data to an external unit.
The present invention further provides a digital video disk unit for reading data recorded in an optical disk, comprising: a memory for storing data to be transferred which is read from the optical disk; a signal processor for processing the data to be transferred; and a control unit for controlling the signal processor, wherein the signal processor comprises: an encryption arithmetic circuit which successively receives the data to be transferred from the memory and successively encrypts the data using cipher data to produce encrypted data; and an interface which receives the encrypted data directly from the encryption arithmetic circuit and successively transfers the encrypted data to an external unit.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6173115 (2001-01-01), Willis

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