DIGITIZED MOVIE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

At least part of a movie is provided in digital form via a digital memory media (13). A digital data handler (12) can access this content and/or facilitate subsequent processing of such content only in response to receipt of an enabling control signal. A verification and authorization unit (11) operably couples to this digital data handler and provides the enabling control signal in response to itself receiving an authorization signal from a remote authorization authority (15). Pursuant to one embodiment, the verification and authorization unit obtains information from the digital memory media and uses this information as part of requesting authorization from the remote authority. Pursuant to one embodiment, the verification and authorization unit further obtains information from a secondary source (such as a smart card (14)) and uses this information as well to effect the authorization process.