Patent ID: 7752464
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A system for deterring theft of media recording devices, comprising a media recording device that captures input streams comprising data representing at least one image, the media recording device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing program instructions that direct the processor to implement functions comprising: processing every input stream captured with the media recording device, prior to recording that captured input stream, by encrypting a first portion of the data that corresponds to a first portion of a physical layout of each of the at least one images and not encrypting a remaining portion of the data that corresponds to a remaining portion of the physical layout of each of the at least one images; and recording the captured input stream, by the media recording device, as modified by the encrypting, such that subsequent playback of the recording will be degraded in the first portion of the physical layout, but not degraded in the remaining portion of the physical layout, unless the encryption can be successfully decrypted.