Abstract: There is described a method of processing a serial data signal to generate a corresponding transformed signal, for example encoded signal. The method includes steps of: (a) providing one or more signature sequences; (b) analysing the serial data signal to determine therein one or more signal sequences for which holds that combining such one or more signal sequences with said one or more signature sequences does not result in generation of illegal states; and (c) combining one or more of the determined signal sequences of the serial data signal with said one or more signature sequences so as to transform the serial data signal into the transformed signal. Moreover, there is also described apparatus (100) operable to execute the method and/or a corresponding inverse method.

Abstract: An apparatus stores (60), transmits (1, 1?), or receives (2) a signal (5, 5?) representing user desired content (10, 10?, 10?, 10??, 62) with device revocation information (4, 71) embedded in the user desired content. In a suitable transmitting embodiment (1, 1?), watermark content (20) including the device revocation information (4) is embedded in the user desired content (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) during encoding as an embedded watermark In a suitable receiving embodiment (2), an embedded watermark (20) is read from the signal (5) representing the user desired content (10). The device revocation information (4) is extracted from the embedded watermark (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a record carrier (1) like a CD-RW+ or a DVD supporting an improved handling and, in particular, an improved access control to information stored on the record carrier (1) by supplying an additional information source. The record carrier (1) has a first area (3) for storing a first kind of information and further has multiple second areas (4.1, . . . , 4.8) each designed for comprising a coupling element to a device for reading and/or writing the record carrier (1), the distribution of the coupling elements on the record carrier (1) encoding a third kind of information, e.g. a regional code indicating the geographical regions the record carrier (1) is valid. Storage media storing information of second kinds may supplement the coupling elements and a coupling element and a storage medium may be integrated into a chip. Making the coupling elements detachable from the record carrier (1) results in an easy way of modifying the third kind of information on a finished record carrier (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for improved access control, in particular copy protec-tion, and improved personalized processing of information, the system comprising a record carrier (1) like a CD-RW+ or a DVD storing copy-protected information and a device for reading and/or writing the record carrier. For that, the record carrier (1) has a first area (3) for storing a first kind of information and further has multiple second areas (4.1, . . . , 4.8) each designed for comprising a storage medium for storing second kinds of information, these storage media preferably being implemented as chips. For copy protection, the first kind of information may be encrypted and the second kinds of information may contain decryption information. The use of multiple storage media for the second kinds of information provides for a more flexible design in distributing the storage and, preferably, computing resources over the record carrier (1).