Importance

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Abstract

Improved techniques to partially encrypt media files are disclosed. The encryption serves to cryptographically secure only a portion of the media data within a media file, while the remaining portion of the media data is not cryptographically secured. Although only partial encryption is used, the portion being encrypted serves to substantially disrupt usefulness of other parts of the media file which are not encrypted. In other words, the partial encryption renders the media file substantially unusable by unauthorized users. In one embodiment, the partial encryption is performed by a host device and thereafter the partially encrypted media file is delivered to a client device. The client device, if authorized, can subsequently decrypt the partially encrypted media file and utilize (e.g., play) the media file. However, since the media files are only partially encrypted, the decryption is likewise also only partial, which makes decryption faster and less resource intensive.

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First Claim