초록 ▼

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 i

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from selected content, the adaptive circuit having a unique identifier, the method comprising:(a) receiving a request for the selected content and receiving the unique identifier;(b) encrypting the selected conten

1. A method for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from selected content, the adaptive circuit having a unique identifier, the method comprising:(a) receiving a request for the selected content and receiving the unique identifier;(b) encrypting the selected content, based upon the unique identifier, to form encrypted content;(c) generating configuration information for the adaptive circuit corresponding to the unique identifier and the encrypted content, to form corresponding configuration information; and(d) transferring the encrypted content and the corresponding configuration information to the adaptive circuit having the unique identifier.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:(e) when the encrypted content and the corresponding configuration information is received by the adaptive circuit, using the corresponding configuration information, configuring the adaptive circuit for use of the selected content.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding configuration information is decryption configuration information.4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.6. The method of claim 5, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured for a content operating mode, the content operating mode using the unique identifier.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the adaptive circuit.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is a public key.9. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypting step (b) utilizes one-time pad encryption.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypting step (b) utilizes public key encryption.11. A system for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from selected content, the adaptive circuit having a unique identifier, the system comprising:means for receiving a request for the selected content and means for receiving the unique identifier;means for encrypting the selected content, based upon the unique identifier, to form encrypted content;means for generating configuration information for the adaptive circuit corresponding to the unique identifier and the encrypted content, to form corresponding configuration information; andmeans for transferring the encrypted content and the corresponding configuration information to the adaptive circuit having the unique identifier.12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:when the encrypted content and the corresponding configuration information is received by the adaptive circuit, means for using the corresponding configuration information to configure the adaptive circuit for use of the selected content.13. The system of claim 11, wherein the corresponding configuration information is decryption configuration information.14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.15. The system of claim 11, wherein the corresponding configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.16. The system of claim 15, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured for a content operating mode, the content operating mode using the unique identifier.17. The system of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the adaptive circuit.18. The system of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is a public key.19. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for encrypting utilize one-time pad encryption.20. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for encrypting utilize public key encryption.21. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is embodied in a network server.22. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is embodied in an adjunct network entity.23. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is embodied in a computer.24. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is embodied in a second adaptive circuit.25. A method for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from 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 configuration information for the adaptive circuit corresponding to the unique identifier to form corresponding configuration information; and(c) transferring the corresponding configuration information to the adaptive circuit having the encrypted content with the unique identifier.26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:(d) when the corresponding configuration information is received by the adaptive circuit, using the corresponding configuration information, configuring the adaptive circuit for decryption of the encrypted content and use of the selected content.27. The method of claim 25, wherein the corresponding configuration information is decryption configuration information.28. The method of claim 27, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.29. The method of claim 25, wherein the corresponding configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.30. The method of claim 29, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured for a content operating mode, the content operating mode using the unique identifier.31. The method of claim 25, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the selected content.32. The method of claim 25, wherein the unique identifier is a public key.33. A system for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit which is inseparable from selected content, the selected content having been encrypted to form encrypted content, the encrypted content having a unique identifier, the system comprising:means for receiving the unique identifier;means for generating configuration information for the adaptive circuit corresponding to the unique identifier to form corresponding configuration information; andmeans for transferring the corresponding configuration information to the adaptive circuit having the encrypted content with the unique identifier.34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:when the corresponding configuration information is received by the adaptive circuit, using the corresponding configuration information, means for configuring the adaptive circuit for decryption of the encrypted content and use of the selected content.35. The system of claim 33, wherein the corresponding configuration information is decryption configuration information.36. The system of claim 35, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted content using the unique identifier.37. The system of claim 33, wherein the corresponding configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.38. The system of claim 37, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured for a content operating mode, the content operating mode using the unique identifier.39. The system of claim 33, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the selected content.40. The system of claim 33, wherein the unique identifier is a public key.41. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is embodied in a network server.42. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is embodied in an adjunct network entity.43. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is embodied in a computer.44. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is embodied in a second adaptive circuit.45. An adaptive integrated circuit, the adaptive integrated circuit having a unique identifier, the adaptive integrated circuit adapted to receive encrypted content and corresponding configuration information, the adaptive integrated circuit comprising:a plurality of fixed and differing computational elements; andan interconnection network coupled to the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements, the interconnection network operative in response to the corresponding configuration information and the unique identifier to configure the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements to decrypt the encrypted content to form selected content and to reconfigure the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements for an operating mode to utilize the selected content.46. The adaptive integrated circuit of claim 45, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the adaptive integrated circuit.47. The adaptive integrated circuit of claim 45, wherein the unique identifier is a public key of the adaptive integrated circuit.48. An adaptive integrated circuit, the adaptive integrated circuit adapted to receive encrypted content and corresponding configuration information, the encrypted content having a unique identifier, the adaptive integrated circuit comprising:a plurality of fixed and differing computational elements; andan interconnection network coupled to the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements, the interconnection network operative in response to the corresponding configuration information and the unique identifier to configure the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements to decrypt the encrypted content to form selected content and to reconfigure the plurality of fixed and differing computational elements for an operating mode to utilize the selected content.49. The adaptive integrated circuit of claim 48, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the encrypted content.50. The adaptive integrated circuit of claim 48, wherein the unique identifier is a public key of the encrypted content.51. A method for encrypting an executable module, the executable module having configuration information combined with selected content, the configuration information for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit for a corresponding operating mode for use of the selected content, the method comprising:(a) receiving a request for the selected content and for the corresponding operating mode;(b) combining the selected content with configuration information to form the executable module, the configuration information for generating the corresponding operating mode; and(c) using a unique identifier, encrypting the executable module to form an encrypted executable module.52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:(d) transferring the encrypted executable module to the adaptive circuit, the adaptive circuit having the unique identifier.53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:(d) transferring the encrypted executable module and the unique identifier to the adaptive circuit.54. The method of claim 51, further comprising:when the encrypted executable module is received by the adaptive circuit, decrypting the encrypted executable module; andusing the configuration information, configuring the adaptive circuit for the corresponding operating mode for use of the selected content.55. The method of claim 51, wherein the configuration information is decryption configuration information.56. The method of claim 55, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted executable module using the unique identifier.57. The method of claim 51, wherein the configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.58. The method of claim 51, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the adaptive circuit.59. The method of claim 51, wherein the unique identifier is a public key of the adaptive circuit.60. The method of claim 51, wherein the encrypting step (c) utilizes one-time pad encryption.61. The method of claim 51, wherein the encrypting step (c) utilizes public key encryption.62. A system for encrypting an executable module, the executable module having configuration information combined with selected content, the configuration information for generating a configuration of an adaptive circuit for a corresponding operating mode for use of the selected content, the system comprising:means for receiving a request for the selected content and for the corresponding operating mode;means for combining the selected content with configuration information to form the executable module, the configuration information for generating the corresponding operating mode; andmeans for using a unique identifier, encrypting the executable module to form an encrypted executable module.63. The system of claim 62, further comprising:means for transferring the encrypted executable module to the adaptive circuit, the adaptive circuit having the unique identifier.64. The system of claim 62, further comprising:means for transferring the encrypted executable module and the unique identifier to the adaptive circuit.65. The system of claim 62, further comprising:when the encrypted executable module is received by the adaptive circuit, means for decrypting the encrypted executable module; andusing the configuration information, means for configuring the adaptive circuit for the corresponding operating mode for use of the selected content.66. The system of claim 62, wherein the configuration information is decryption configuration information.67. The system of claim 66, wherein the adaptive circuit is configured to decrypt the encrypted executable module using the unique identifier.68. The system of claim 62, wherein the configuration information is content operating mode configuration information.69. The system of claim 62, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number of the adaptive circuit.70. The system of claim 62, wherein the unique identifier is a public key of the adaptive circuit.71. The system of claim 62, wherein the means for encrypting utilizes one-time pad encryption.72. The system of claim 62, wherein the means for encrypting utilizes public key encryption.