A Secure Content Delivery System Based on a Partially Reconfigurable FPGA

We developed a content delivery system using a partially reconfigurable FPGA to securely distribute digital content on the Internet. With partial reconfigurability of a Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA, the system provides an innovative single-chip solution for protecting digital content. In the system, a partial circuit must be downloaded from a server to the client terminal to play content. Content will be played only when the downloaded circuit is correctly combined (= interlocked) with the circuit built in the terminal. Since each circuit has a unique I/O configuration, the downloaded circuit interlocks with the corresponding built-in circuit designed for a particular terminal. Thus, the interface of the circuit itself provides a novel authentication mechanism. This paper describes the detailed architecture of the system and clarify the feasibility and effectiveness of the system. In addition, we discuss a fail-safe mechanism and future work necessary for the practical application of the...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: IEICET
• Authors: Yohei Hori, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Hirofumi Sakane, Kenji Toda
• Keywords: Digital Content, Downloaded Circuit, IEICET 2008, Virtex-II Pro FPGA