DIGITAL CONTENT PROTECTION USING A SECURE BOOTING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method and system of protecting content by ensuring a secure boot of a processor environment. A processor is coupled to a certification unit which may include a decryption engine (12) and a one-way hash unit (14). The certification unit is employed to ensure that only certified software is permitted access to memory containing content and that only certified software may access to memory (22) containing and that only certified software may access a content bit stream such as may flow across a 1394 serial bus from a digital video player (26). By preventing access by uncertified software, the risk of a personal computer being used as an instrumentality of piracy is reduced.